Different mushroom varieties require different environmental conditions for optimal growth. These settings have been reverse-engineered from Shrooly’s original scripts and refined through community testing.

Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Oyster mushrooms are hardy and great for beginners.

  • Air Exchange

    • Period: 5 minutes
    • Duration: 150 seconds
    • Fan Speed: 50%

  • Humidity

    • Target: 85% (base)
    • Increase to 90% if temperature exceeds 21°C (70°F)

  • Lighting

    • Duration: 10 hours
    • White LED: 5% intensity
    • RGB: Off (0, 0, 0)
    • Sunrise: Flexible (morning hours preferred)

Growing Tips

  • Very tolerant of varying conditions
  • Fruits well at room temperature
  • Benefits from strong air exchange
  • Can fruit on many substrates

Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Lion’s Mane requires careful humidity management for proper spine development.

  • Air Exchange

    • Period: 3 minutes
    • Duration: 45 seconds
    • Fan Speed: 50%

  • Humidity

    • Target: 85% (base)
    • Increase to 90% if temperature exceeds 21°C (70°F)

  • Lighting

    • Duration: 10 hours
    • White LED: 5% intensity
    • RGB: Off (0, 0, 0)
    • Sunrise: Flexible (morning hours preferred)

Growing Tips

  • Requires high humidity for proper spine formation
  • Sensitive to CO₂ buildup
  • Prefers cooler temperatures (18-24°C)
  • May need misting if spines appear dry

Pioppino (Agrocybe aegerita)

Pioppino mushrooms prefer moderate conditions with good air circulation.

  • Air Exchange

    • Period: 3 minutes
    • Duration: 60 seconds
    • Fan Speed: 50%

  • Humidity

    • Target: 85% (base)
    • Increase to 90% if temperature exceeds 21°C (70°F)

  • Lighting

    • Duration: 10 hours
    • White LED: 5% intensity
    • RGB: Off (0, 0, 0)
    • Sunrise: Flexible (morning hours preferred)

Growing Tips

  • Benefits from slightly lower humidity than oysters
  • Requires good air circulation to prevent stem elongation
  • Fruits best at 15-25°C
  • Can take longer to fruit than other varieties

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Reishi is a medicinal mushroom requiring specific conditions for antler or conk formation.

  • Air Exchange

    • Period: 62 minutes
    • Duration: 120 seconds
    • Fan Speed: 50%

  • Humidity

    • Target: 85% (base)
    • Increase to 90% if temperature exceeds 21°C (70°F)

  • Lighting

    • Duration: 10 hours
    • White LED: 5% intensity
    • RGB: Off (0, 0, 0)
    • Sunrise: Flexible (morning hours preferred)

Growing Tips

  • Very slow growing (weeks to months)
  • Low air exchange promotes antler formation
  • Higher air exchange encourages conk development
  • Prefers warmer temperatures (25-30°C)
  • Can be grown for medicinal compounds without full fruiting

General Guidelines

Temperature Adjustments

While OpenShrooly doesn’t directly control temperature, ambient temperature affects all settings:

  • Below 18°C (64°F): May need to reduce humidity target slightly
  • 18-24°C (64-75°F): Ideal range for most species
  • Above 24°C (75°F): Increase humidity target and air exchange

Humidity Management

The relationship between humidity and temperature is critical:

  • Higher temperatures require higher humidity
  • Increased air exchange reduces humidity
  • Balance is key for preventing contamination while maintaining growth

Light Requirements

Most mushrooms need light for proper fruiting:

  • Blue spectrum light encourages fruiting
  • Low intensity is usually sufficient
  • Consistent daily cycles are important
  • Complete darkness can cause deformed growth

Customizing Settings

These settings are starting points. Adjust based on:

  1. Your Environment: Room temperature, ambient humidity
  2. Growth Stage: Colonization vs. fruiting
  3. Substrate Type: Different substrates hold moisture differently
  4. Strain Variations: Different strains may have unique preferences

Monitoring and Adjustments

Signs Settings Need Adjustment

Too Dry:

  • Mushroom caps cracking
  • Slow or stalled growth
  • Substrate shrinking

Too Humid:

  • Bacterial blotch (yellow/brown spots)
  • Mushrooms feel slimy
  • Excessive condensation

Poor Air Exchange:

  • Long, thin stems
  • Small caps
  • Fuzzy mycelium at base

Excessive Air Exchange:

  • Dry, cracked caps
  • Slow growth
  • Difficulty maintaining humidity

Recording Your Results

Keep a cultivation log noting:

  • Settings used
  • Environmental conditions
  • Growth timeline
  • Yield and quality
  • Any adjustments made

This helps refine settings for future grows and contributes to community knowledge.

Community Contributions

These settings continue to be refined by the OpenShrooly community. Share your experiences and optimizations on the GitHub repository to help improve recommendations for all users.